Illinois football recruiting heats up

Like the season, Illinois football recruiting turning in the right direction.

John Supinie

Pat Flavin will tell you a team he didn't follow while growing up in the Chicago suburbs.

"I hated Illinois,'' said the Lisle Benet senior offensive tackle. "They were terrible. They were 1-10 every year.''

Then Flavin watched as the Illini climbed up with coach Ron Zook to the Rose Bowl before sliding back down the pecking order. But after changes in the coaching staff last winter, a winning season and a bowl victory, Flavin felt liked he picked a winner.

"In my mind, Illinois football has turned the page and can compete for the Big Ten championship with the coaching staff they have in place,'' said Flavin, who is expected to be among the 28 prep seniors to sign letters of intent Wednesday. The class includes Canton offensive lineman Hunter Wells, and Metamora senior placekicker Brennen VanMieghem will join the program as a preferred walk-on with the chance of earning a scholarship later.

After rebounding for the second winning record in six seasons under Zook and the program's first bowl victory in 11 years, Illini recruiting also took a step in the right direction, said CBS sports recruiting analyst Tom Lemming.

The Illini are "probably in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten,'' Lemming said.

The coaching overhaul worked on the field last season, and it also worked on the recruiting trail, Lemming said.

"Zook is an outstanding recruiter, and he hit a home run with this staff,'' Lemming said.

Zook felt last year's class, rated one of the lowest in the Big Ten, had more impact players than analysts expected. With his coaching staff apparently set for next season, Zook spent more time this season on recruiting rather than hiring staff. A 7-6 record helped. The 38-14 win over Baylor in the Texas Bowl also doesn't hurt.

"It might have solidified some guys on the fence,'' Zook said. "Everyone understands where this program is going now. We've got the direction, the attitude and the things in place to get where we want to get.''

Quarterback Reilly O'Toole passed for 3,187 yards and 42 touchdowns last season to lead Wheaton-Warrenville South to a second straight Class 7A state championship. Lemming rated him as a top 100 recruit nationally. Illinois did good work in landing a quality quarterback, Leeming said, with redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase starting every game last season.

"They want to get some different packages for me,'' O'Toole said. "I'm not much of a runner.''

Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino has experience with more of a pro-style attack, and O'Toole would give Illinois a passer to go with the option running of Scheelhaase.

Flavin chose the Illini over UCLA, California and Oregon, he said. Michigan made a late recruiting pitch after a change in coaching staff.

The Illini also grabbed commitments from two players rated as sleepers because of injury. Dondi Kirby of Monroeville (Pa.) Gateway is a four-star prospect at safety or outside linebacker after sitting as a senior because of a knee injury. Kirby could also be a conduit to a loaded western Pennsylvania region next fall. Iowa, Southern Cal, Maryland and Florida were also Kirby's finalists.

Running back Donovonn Young broke his foot in the first game of his junior season but finally chose Illinois after rushing for 2,332 yards and 35 touchdowns this season for Katy, a Houston suburb just miles down the road from the Illini bowl site.

"A lot of sleepers at running back come out of Texas,'' said Lemming. "Maybe lightning strikes for Illinois.''

With a new staff in place for the last year, Illinois also hit new areas. The Illini worked Texas harder. With defensive coordinator Vic Koenning's experience in Memphis, the Illini have a better handle on that territory. Koenning and West help in the Southeast and the Carolinas after working at Clemson for years.

CBS Sports ranked Illinois No. 13 overall and No. 2 in the Big Ten Saturday, in part because Lemming put O'Toole at No. 99 overall. But had Illinois No. 41 overall and No. 8 in the Big Ten. Recruiting isn't an exact science, but the numbers seemed to turn in the Illini's favor. Yet plenty of movement happens in the final weekend.

The Illini may sign the maximum of 28 allowed by the Big Ten, but the number must be trimmed to 25 by August. Attrition by academics usually creates some changes in the class. Another option is gray shirting a player, thus pushing back his enrollment until next January. Illinois is making a late push for four-star tight end Jon Davis, of Louisville. He appeared to be wavering on a commitment to Kentucky. Louisville is also a finalist.

"A year ago, there was talk Zook would be fired,'' Lemming said. "They had to show improvement on the field. Everything else is in place. They did a complete 360.''